Former NBA player Larry Robinson has been hired by L'Auberge as a casino host in the player development department. Prior to returning to his native state of Louisiana, Robinson played for the National Basketball Association for 14 years with the New York Knicks, the Boston Celtics and the Houston Rockets. Robinson was part of the Rockets team during its 1994 NBA World Championship season. Robinson will focus on establishing and nurturing client relationships and creating and maintaining a high level of customer service at the resort casino. He will take part in guest programs and special events for preferred customers; in addition to expanding awareness and excitement of L’Auberge as a gaming and resort destination. In addition to being an accomplished professional athlete, Robinson graduated from Centenary College in Shreveport, La. with a degree in health and exercise. In 1997, he was inducted into the Louisiana Basketball Hall of Fame for his accomplishments on the Centenary basketball team.

Damian Meehan, MD, has joined Dr. Alycia Rodgers on the pediatric medical staff of Southwest Louisiana Center for Health Services. Dr. Meehan graduated from Howard University and received her medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Tennessee. She completed her residency in pediatric medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern/ Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. SWLA Center for Health Services is located at 2000 Opelousas Street in Lake Charles.

Master Trooper James Jacobsen and Senior Trooper Tracy Morgan were promoted to the rank of Sergeant by Colonel Henry Whitehorn, Superintendent of the Louisiana State Police, Wednesday, October 12th. Sgt Jacobsen will serve as a Troop D shift sergeant and Sgt Morgan will serve as sergeant in the Indian Gaming Division in Kinder. Jacobsen is a native of Longville and graduated from South Beauregard High School in Longville. He worked as a deputy sheriff 5 years for the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office and attended McNeese State University with a major of business administration. Sergeant Jacobsen has been with the Louisiana State Police for 15 years. Morgan is a native of Crowley and graduated from Crowley High School. He served 5 years in the United States Marine Corps before working for the Lake Charles City Police Department for one year. He has received an Associate of Criminal Justice from Louisiana State University at Eunice and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from McNeese State University. Sergeant Morgan has been with the Louisiana State Police for 11 years.

Laura Latronico Promoted to Director of Spa and Retail Operations at L’Auberge. L’Auberge du Lac Hotel & Casino has promoted Laura Latronico to director of spa and retail operations. Latronico joined L’Auberge earlier this year as director of spa operations. In her new position, she will manage the day-to-day operations of the marina, Spa du Lac, The Salon at Spa du Lac as well as the resort’s cardio fitness center and pool areas. Her new duties include management and oversight of all retail outlets for L’Auberge; including Nouveau, L’Sundries, Modele, The Arcade and The Floral Shop. Latronico brings to L’Auberge 10 years of experience in the health and wellness industry. Prior to that, she was the lead spa task force project manager for Starwood Hotel & Resorts, where she assisted the Starwood Hotel spa division with more than 70 spa projects across the country. In addition to being an accomplished collegiate athlete in volleyball and soccer, Latronico graduated Cum Laude and holds a bachelor’s degree in health recreation and sports management from Saint Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. She is also affiliated with several professional organizations, including The International Spa & Fitness Association (ISPA), International Health & Racquetball Sports Association (IHRSA).

John Noble, Jr., MD, board certified orthopaedic surgeon with the Center for Orthopaedics, has received the Physician’s Recognition Award (PRA) from the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Louisiana State Medical Society (LSMS). This certificate is awarded to physicians who demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional development. To earn the PRA, physicians must complete at least 50 hours each year of educational activities that meet AMA and LSMS standards. Dr. Noble is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, as well as several other societies and organizations. He serves as a Clinical Instructor of Orthopaedics for LSU School of Medicine. His research has been published in numerous academic journals, including Orthopaedics, The American Journal of Knee Surgery and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. Dr. Noble has been in practice with the Center for Orthopaedics since 2000.

Yoon C. Nofsinger, MD, has joined the medical staff of Lake Charles Medical and Surgical Clinic. Dr. Nofsinger is an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) physician, with a special interest in allergy treatment. She received her undergraduate degree from Duke University in North Carolina and her Medical Degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia. Dr.Nofsinger completed an Internship in General Surgery and a Residency in Otolaryngology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She has seven years of practice experience, working first at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York and then at Gainesville Otolaryngology Group in Florida before joining The Clinic. Dr. Nofsinger has also started an Allergy Clinic at The Clinic. Her office is located in the ENT Department at The Clinic, on the second floor of the main office building at 501 S. Ryan Street in Lake Charles.

David Drez, Jr., MD, and Nathan Cohen, MD, board certified orthopaedic surgeons with Center for Orthopaedics, recently received certification for new minimally invasive, computer assisted techniques for total and partial knee replacements. The training programs were: ";Computer Assisted Surgery Course; Ci-Total Knee and Minimal Invasive Uni-compartmental Knee."; The courses were sponsored by DePuy at the Endo-Surgery Institute (ESI) in Cincinnati, Ohio. Both Dr. Drez and Dr. Cohen see patients in the Lake Charles and Sulphur offices of Center for Orthopaedics.